2023-05-16 06:47:00
200 union activists from the non-profit sector are demonstrating this morning in front of the office of the Federal Minister of Health, in order to reiterate their demands. Activists will dress up as ministers and receive a symbolic injection, carrying the message “a booster shot for health care”.
A reminder shot issued symbolically to the Minister of Health, Frank Vandenbroucke, this morning, in front of his cabinet. They will be 200 union activists from the non-profit sector: they want to recall that the lack of nurses is glaring in Belgium: there is talk of a lack of 25,000 to 30,000 caregivers.
At the University Hospital of Mont-Godinne, in the province of Namur, the services must be reorganized to deal with the lack of manpower.
Laurence Tavier has been a nurse for 32 years. In its cardiology department, 9 of the 35 beds had to be closed due to lack of staff. Patients are transferred to the neighboring cardiac surgery department: “We reorganize day by day, we juggle with the organization”.
What we need is also nurses
These decisions should in principle not be taken, following the creation of the White Coats Fund in 2019 which was to allow nurses to be able to concentrate solely on their work. “We have hired more caregivers, pharmaceutical assistants, logistics assistants of course who help us a lot. What we need is also nurses”points Laurence.
“There soon, there will be the exit of the schools since we arrive in June. And so, we have applicants, we are recruiting. But, nevertheless, not enough to equip our care units”explains Christelle Vastrade, director of the nursing department at Mont-Godinne.
For Laurence, the reason is quite simple: “working at the hospital at the moment is scary. What is needed is to revalue this work at the hospital so that the students come back to work with us”.
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